2007–2008 Education/Teacher Education Programs

Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary Licensure

Mission Statement

The teacher education programs take a practical, multifaceted, student centered approach to preparing teachers. Content knowledge and pedagogy are developed to prepare teacher education students for teaching all learners. Professionalism in diverse school contexts is modeled and practiced through courses and related field experience. Teacher education students create a portfolio focused on self-reflection to document growth toward program goals.

Program Standards

Knowledge of Learners and their Development
Knowledge of Subject Matter and Curriculum Goals
Knowledge of Teaching
Knowledge of Culture and Society

Admission to the Program

All students who wish to pursue an undergraduate education and licensure program must make formal application for admission to the Teacher Education Programs. To declare education as a field of study and apply for formal admission to the Teacher Education Programs, students must follow the procedures and requirements in Step 1 and Step 2 described below. (You must have signed approval from an education advisor to register for any education class, but this is not the same as being formally admitted to one of the programs.)

Forms and application materials referred to are available in the School of Education Office and should be returned to that office when completed.

Declaring Education as a Program of Study

Undergraduate students begin with step 1; Graduate and licensure-only students
begin with step 2.

Students pursuing first bachelor's degrees with licensure in Early Childhood, Elementary or Secondary Education must pass the writing and language usage test. (Information and testing dates and times are available in the START Center and the School of Education office.)Note: Undergraduate students who do not pass the test after two attempts need
to check with the School of Education before proceeding to step 2.

All undergraduate, graduate, and license-only students pursuing licensure in Early Childhood, Elementary or Secondary Education may pick up a packet and turn in the following before or during their first semester of education coursework. Undergraduate students should not begin this paperwork until all but the last few (1–3) Liberal Education classes have been completed.

Declaration of Intent form and letter

Background Check form and fingerprints

Have a 2.75 cumulative GPA

Three letters of recommendation

To complete the admissions process, all students must be enrolled in EDUC 302 and may also be enrolled in EDUC 268, 303, 322, 340 and SPED 303 or the graduate level equivalent for combined masters/licensure students. During this semester all students will meet with an education advisor and appropriate content area advisor(s) to complete a program plan.

Note: All upper division, education transfer courses must be approved by the Dean
or Program Director. Transfer courses in content areas (i.e., academic and/or
teaching majors and minors) will be reviewed by content area advisors to assure
that they meet Westminster degree requirements and State of Utah teacher licensure
requirements.

Students are admitted each semester and acceptance or denial to the program is based upon the review of applications by the Education faculty and the Teacher Education Program Advisory Council.

Students may not enroll in further education classes without being admitted to the program.

The following courses may be taken prior to formal admission to the Education Programs: EDUC 220, 221, 250, 300, 302, 303, 304, 320, and SPED 303.

Student Teaching

To student teach, students must have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program and must complete the requirements listed below.

Submit the completed Request for Student Teaching form by the first Monday in March to student teach in the fall or by the first Monday in October to student teach in the spring.

Appeal Process: A student has the right to appeal a decision denying admission to the Teacher Education Programs or denying the opportunity to student teach. The student has fifteen days after receiving a denial letter to petition the Dean, in writing, for reconsideration.

Note: Formal admission to the Teacher Education Program does not guarantee a recommendation for licensure. Recommendation for licensure is made upon development of teaching competence in designated areas after successful completion of the student’s specific teacher education program and completion of state approved licensure tests.

Program Requirements

All students, whether seeking degrees and teacher licensure or seeking teacher licensure only, must maintain a 2.75 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 cumulative GPA in education courses and have a minimum grade of C+ in all education courses. In credit/no credit education courses, students must perform work at the level of C+ or higher to receive credit. Education courses may only be repeated once.

All students must complete the appropriate state required content test(s) in order to meet the requirement for an initial Utah Level I teaching license.

Degree-Seeking Students

All degree-seeking students must satisfy general program requirements listed above and must also satisfy requirements detailed under the specific education program.

Students with previously earned bachelor’s degrees who are seeking their first teacher licensure in Early Childhood or Elementary Education are considered to be seeking second bachelor’s degrees, unless otherwise designated by the Dean. These students are subject to the provisions detailed in the Second Bachelor’s Degree section of this catalog.

Students seeking Secondary Education licensure who also wish to complete second bachelor’s degrees are subject to the Second Bachelor’s Degree section of this catalog.

Early Childhood (Grades K–3) Program Requirements (ECE)

Students who are seeking their first licensure must take a minimum of 30 credit hours in education at Westminster College and must also meet college residency requirements. All coursework must be planned with the student’s advisor. Early Childhood Education majors must have an academic or teaching content minor. Acceptable academic or teaching minors and acceptable transfer academic or teaching minors are listed. Other minors must be approved by the dean.

Art

Music

Communication

Physical Science

Computer Science

Psychology

English

Social Science

ESL

Spanish

French

Special Education

History

Speech

Mathematics

Theatre

The major in Early Childhood Education includes the following:

Completion of Teacher Education Program Admission, Step 1

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required
for the Education major:

PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology, LE
MATH 141 College Algebra, LE

4
4

Requirement Description

Credit Hours

I.

Foreign Language Requirement

8

Education majors must complete eight credit hours in one of the following
ways:

Four credit hours of a foreign language, and either: four credit hours
of a Westminster May term/summer international study tour, four credit
hours of a May term/summer cross-cultural national study tour approved
by the School of Education, or four credits of an international study
tour transferred from an accredited college or university.

Eight credit hours of a single foreign language.

See Foreign Language Requirement for equivalencies, AP and CLEP credit
policy. Note: Foreign Language is not a requirement for Combined Masters/Licensure
Program

*Note: With Dean and/or program chair approval, prerequisite psychology
courses at the 200-level may be transferred from other institutions. Psychology
courses completed within the previous ten-year period will be considered
for transfer.
** Or higher level or equivalent

*Students are required to spend twenty clock hours in a field placement.

** May be taken prior to admission to the program

3
3
2
4
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

1

2
1
1
3
2
10

TOTAL HOURS FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MAJOR

78

Completion of an approved academic or teaching
major or minor is required (see individual program listings for details).

The following classes are recommended but not required.

EDUC 300 Special Topics

1–4

EDUC 351 Reading Foundations II

3

EDUC 354* Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties

1

EDUC 355* Literature-Based Reading Instruction

1

ENGL 312 Children's Literature

3

THTR 350 Creative Dynamics

2

*If not taken as a required course

Elementary Education (Grades 1–8) Program Requirements (ELED)

Students who are seeking their first licensure must take a minimum of 30 credit hours in education at Westminster College and must also meet college residency requirements. All coursework must be planned with the student’s advisor. Elementary education majors must have an academic or teaching content minor.

Programs offering teaching minors are:

Art

Music

Communication

Physical Science

Computer Science

Psychology

English

Social Science

ESL

Spanish

French

Special Education

History

Speech

Mathematics

Theatre

The major in Elementary Education includes the following:

Completion of Teacher Education Program Admission, Step 1

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required
for the Education major:

PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology, LE
MATH 141 College Algebra, LE

4
4

Requirement Description

Credit Hours

I.

Foreign Language Requirement

8

Education majors must complete eight credit hours in one of the following
ways:

Four credit hours of a foreign language, and either: four credit hours
of a Westminster May term/summer international study tour, four credit
hours of a May term/summer cross-cultural national study tour approved
by the School of Education, or four credits of an international study
tour transferred from an accredited college or university.

Eight credit hours of a single foreign language.

See Foreign Language Requirement for equivalencies, AP and CLEP credit
policy. Note: Foreign Language is not a requirement for Combined Masters/Licensure
Program

*With Dean and/or program chair approval, prerequisite psychology courses
at the 200-level may be transferred from other institutions. Psychology
courses completed within the previous ten-year period will be considered
for transfer.
**Or higher level or equivalent

Students who are seeking their first licensure must take a minimum of 30 credit hours in education at Westminster College and must also meet college residency requirements. All coursework must be planned with the student’s advisor. Early Childhood/Elementary Education Composite majors must have an academic or teaching content minor. Acceptable academic or teaching minors and acceptable transfer academic or teaching minors are listed. Other minors must be approved by the dean.

Art

Music

Communication

Physical Science

Computer Science

Psychology

English

Social Science

ESL

Spanish

French

Special Education

History

Speech

Mathematics

Theatre

The major in Early Childhood/Elementary Education includes the following:

Completion of Teacher Education Program Admission, Step 1

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following courses, which fulfill LE requirements, are required
for the Education major:

PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology, LE
MATH 141 College Algebra, LE

4
4

Requirement Description

Credit Hours

I.

Foreign Language Requirement

8

Education majors must complete eight credit hours in one of the following ways:

Four credit hours of a foreign language, and either: four credit hours of a Westminster May term/summer international study tour, four credit hours of a May term/summer cross-cultural national study tour approved by the School of Education, or four credits of an international study tour transferred from an accredited college or university.

*Note: With Dean and/or program chair approval, prerequisite psychology
courses at the 200-level may be transferred from other institutions. Psychology
courses completed within the previous ten-year period will be considered
for transfer.
** or higher level equivalent

Completion of an approved academic or teaching minor is required (see individual program
listings for details).

The following classes are recommended but not required.

EDUC 300 Special Topics (1–4)

EDUC 354 Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties (1)

EDUC 355 Literature-Based Reading Instruction (1)

ENGL 312 Children's Literature (3)

THTR 350 Creative Dynamics (2)

*If not taken as a required course

Secondary Education (Grades 6–12) Program Requirements (SED)

Students who are seeking their bachelor’s degree and first licensure must take a minimum of 30 credit hours of education at Westminster College and must also meet college residency requirements. Students who already have a bachelor’s degree and are seeking their first licensure must take a minimum of 24 hours of education coursework at Westminster. Secondary education students must select a teaching major and an academic or teaching minor, or a composite teaching major. All coursework must be planned with the student’s major, minor, and education advisors.

Programs offering teaching majors and minors include:

Art (major/minor)

Mathematics (major/minor)

Biology (composite major/minor)

Physical Science (composite major)

Chemistry (major/minor)

Physics (major/minor)

Computer Science (minor)

Social Science (composite major)

English (major/minor)

Spanish (minor)

French (minor)

Special Education (minor)

History (major/minor)

Theatre (minor)

The Secondary Education program includes the following:

Completion of Teacher Education Program Admission, Step 1

Liberal Education Courses

Credit Hours

The following course, which fulfills the LE requirement, is required
for the Education major:

PSYC 105 Introduction to Psychology, LE

4

Requirement Description

Credit Hours

I.

Foreign Language Requirement

8

Secondary Education students must complete the Foreign Language requirement
of their teaching major.

*Note: With Dean and/or program chair approval, prerequisite psychology
courses at the 200-level may be transferred from other institutions. Psychology
courses completed within the previous ten-year period will be considered
for transfer.